Cuba approves Havana-Tampa flights

TAMPA, FLORIDA – The Cuban government on Wednesday authorized passenger flights to take place between Cuba and Florida's Tampa International Airport after almost 50 years, the airport announced.

Tessie Aral, President of ABC Charters, a Carrier Service Provider (CSP) with license to provide travel and charter services to Cuba, said it has secured Cuba Landing Rights for Tampa International Airport. She informed airport officials that Tampa's first flight to the Caribbean island could be as early as September 10, 2011.

"This is a monumental day. It took many people and many years working together to secure Tampa International Airport as the new gateway airport to Cuba," said Joe Lopano, CEO of Tampa International Airport. "Accessing this vital international destination will benefit all of Tampa Bay with its economic impact and it is great news for our Cuban-American community."

The State of Florida, by U.S. Census statistics, has the largest Cuban-American population in the United States. The airport said there are nearly 140,000 people of Cuban ancestry living within 90 minutes of Tampa International Airport.

Tampa airport officials said there were about 140,000 people of Cuban ancestry living within 90 minutes of the airport. The Tampa Bay area ranks second in the nation only to the Miami area in the size of its Cuban-American population, according to the U.S. Census.

Tampa was one of eight U.S. cities approved for charter flights to Cuba in March by the U.S. government but Havana had not given its go ahead for the Tampa flights until now.

Before March, only Miami, New York and Los Angeles had air service to Cuba.

The Obama administration has eased Bush-era restrictions on U.S. travel to Cuba and now allows Cuban-Americans to visit as often as they like. Restrictions have also been eased to allow more "people-to-people" visits to the island by U.S. cultural and educational groups.

Tampa used to have flights to and from Havana until the U.S. trade embargo was imposed in 1962 to put pressure on the Cuba's communist government.

"ABC Charters is proud to facilitate the reunification of the Cuban American families in Tampa and the adjoining areas," Aral said. "They no longer will need to drive several hours to Miami, so they can visit their families in Cuba.

During the 1960s, Tampa International Airport provided regularly scheduled services to Havana aboard National Airlines with a pre-jet airliner DC-7B. Since then, there was no flight service between Tampa's airport, which is the 30th busiest in North America, and the Caribbean island.